Why did God save us?
Part 2
2nd May 2008
Last week, we started to look into the question "for what purpose did God save us?" Our first answer was: so that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2v9) together with in order that we might be for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1v12).That is:
God saved us so that we would praise Him and so that others would praise Him because of us
This week, we'll look at another purpose God has in saving us.
Romans 8v28-29
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according
to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers.
I mentioned this scripture in an earlier column called "Thy will be done" but I think it's worth going into a bit more detail about it. We start by seeing that God's purpose for each one of His people - the church - is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. This is a wonderful privilege, given to us by God, but it's not one we tend to talk about. I think we shy away from this for two reasons: firstly because we so obviously don't deserve it and secondly because it's so obviously impossible.
Of course we don't deserve it. But every Christian has been saved by grace, and should know that we don't deserve anything that God gives us. We certainly didn't deserve to have Jesus die in our place. And we don't deserve any of the benefits that flow from His sacrifice.
And of course it's impossible. It's quite impossible for me to be like Jesus Christ. I'm so far from being as loving, as gentle, as kind, as self-sacrificing, as patient, as wise, as prayerful, as generous... as Jesus. And yet, the Bible says that this is God's purpose: to make me like Jesus. More than that, the Bible says that God has predestined me to be like Jesus. Who am I to argue with the Bible? But it's impossible, isn't it? Yes, it is impossible. But God does the impossible!
As you consider your life and your character right now, you may be rather disappointed. This is perhaps especially true for those who've been Christians for a long time. We'd like to think that we'd improved more than we have in the time we've known God. Sometimes, it seems like we're not growing in grace at all. Sometimes, we even begin to wonder if we really are Christians at all, when we consider how we think, act and feel. But God's promise stands. God's eternal plan for your life has been predestined. You will be like Jesus. Indeed, you're becoming more like Jesus every day:
2 Corinthians 3v17-18
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
And that's true whether we feel like it or not.
I know we're often guilty of thinking more of ourselves than we should. But we're also capable of thinking less of ourselves than we should. Consider this simple, Biblical statement:
We are all... being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory
Yes, even me. And even you. When we feel particularly negative about ourselves, it's often because God is putting us through a deeper refining process, putting us under pressure of one kind or another, and letting us see our impurity in how we deal with that pressure. This is so we can repent of that impurity, ask for God's help in improving our character and actions, and so be transformed further.
And this helps us to understand a question that Christians ask so often: If God loves me so much, why am I suffering? That's a very good question, especially in the light of the first part of our scripture quotation: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Many is the time when Christians have pointed out to God that they doesn't feel like He loves them. Many of us have known deep sadness, bereavement, unemployment, sickness and the like. Many Christians have known persecution, torture and martyrdom because of their faith in Him. At such times we must walk by faith. That is, we accept what we know to be true, even when it doesn't feel true.
But since it is true, God is working for our good in all things, why do we suffer so much? There are many true but partial answers to that question. Right now, in this discussion, the most relevant seems to be:
God allows us to suffer because he has purposed to make us like Jesus, and much of the required transformation is facilitated by pressure and pain.
In His mercy, many of us also know times of great joy, and even of rest. But God has predestined that we would go through this transformation, to make us fit for heaven. And this transformation is more important than our ease. And sometimes it hurts.
Of course there are many other reasons for our pain. Our own sin and the sin of others are often powerful forces in our lives. But even in this, God is working for our good. Sometimes that's all we have to hold on to, but it's true. If we can embrace this truth, it is easier to bear the pain, because we know it can be good for us in the long run, even though it can be horrendous for us now.